Libyan soldiers trained in UK sent home amid sex assault allegations

Britain's Ministry of Defence (MoD) said on Tuesday it was cutting short a UK-hosted training program for Libyan troops after five of the soldiers were accused of sexual assault.

Around 300 Libyan
soldiers have been based at the Bassingbourn Barracks in
Cambridgeshire since July as part of the UK's pledge to support
the troubled northern African government.

Originally, the MoD planned to train 2,000 Libyans, but now the
first group is being sent home and the future of the training
mission is in doubt.

“Training was initially expected to last until the end of
November but we have agreed with the Libyan government that it is
best for all involved to bring forward the training completion
date,” the MoD said in a statement. “The recruits will
be returning to Libya in the coming days.”

Three of the recruits – Ibrahim Naji el Maarfi, 20, Mohammed
Abdalsalam, 27, and Khaled El Azibi, 18 – are due in court in
Cambridge on Tuesday to face sexual assault charges.

Maarfi and Abdalsalam have each admitted two counts of sexual
assault. Azibi has been charged with three counts of sexual
assault but has not yet entered a plea.